John Deere has a proud history of producing some of the most dependable, long-lasting equipment in the construction and forestry industries. You can count the 944K hybrid-electric wheel loader among the lineup of reliable machines, according to one McCoy Construction & Forestry customer.
Equipment operators at Billerud’s Escanaba, MI paper facility can vouch for the dependability of John Deere's largest model of wheel loaders. Purchasing a new wheel loader from the local McCoy Construction & Forestry dealership in 2019, the paper products maker has relied on its 944K loader for more than 30,000 hours of service.
The Billerud Escanaba facility spans 2,000 acres and employs about 860 people. Each year, the team manufactures roughly 660,000 tons of graphic and label paper, and the facility produces its own wood chips, pulp and power. The 944K loader plays an essential role in moving wood chips to prepare for the pulping process as a part of the mill's around-the-clock papermaking operations.
Averaging 500 hours of operations per month, Billerud’s 944K crossed the 30,000-hour threshold last fall, according to Jerry Ruether, a woodyard manager at the mill.
Ruether says the Billerud team has been able to count on its John Deere wheel loader.
The Escanaba facility’s wheel loader went 25,000 hours before requiring any extensive engine repairs.
For Ruether and the Billerud team, their 944K loader is a machine they can count on. “The machine has been reliable,” he said. “It has (over) 30,000 hours on it, and it has the same power as it had on Day One.”
The 944K takes advantage of John Deere's 50-plus years of experience manufacturing wheel loaders to provide operators with a lower total cost of ownership while maximizing productivity. The 944K features a hybrid-electric drive system that is designed to increase engine life while reducing fuel costs.
